Granted Patent B2

US 7,680,494 · App. 11/142,545 · Granted Mar 16, 2010

Abstract

Claims (68)

1. A method for operating a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user of the wireless terminal to print a file;

identifying a destination printer;

determining that the wireless terminal does not include printer driver software to process the file to generate a processed print file;

identifying a servicing device that includes printer driver software to process the file to produce the processed print file for printing at the destination printer; and

wirelessly transmitting the file to the servicing device via the servicing wireless network;

the servicing device employing its included printer driver software to process the file to produce the processed print file;

the servicing device transmitting the processed print file to the wireless terminal;

receiving the processed print file that has been transmitted to the wireless terminal from the servicing device via the servicing wireless network, the processed print file supported by the destination printer; and

transmitting the processed print file via the servicing wireless network from the wireless terminal to the destination printer for printing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a confirmation that the file has been delivered to the destination printer for printing.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the servicing device is a server computer.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting information regarding the destination printer to the servicing device via the servicing wireless network, the information including a network address of the destination printer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the wireless terminal is a wireless local area network (WLAN) telephone, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) telephone, a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) telephone, or a cellular telephone.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the servicing device employing its included printer driver software to process the file to produce the processed print file, the processed print file supported by the destination printer; and

the servicing device transmitting the processed print file to the destination printer for printing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a destination printer comprises:

identifying at least one available printer that is available to the wireless terminal for printing;

presenting at least one identity of the at least one available printer to the user of the wireless terminal via a user interface of the wireless terminal; and

receiving input from the user via the user interface to indicate a selection of the destination printer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the file is an email attachment, a file downloaded from a server coupled to the Internet, a file downloaded from a computer on the Internet, or a file delivered to the wireless terminal from at least one additional wireless terminal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the wireless terminal does not support printing of the file at the destination printer comprises the wireless terminal determining that it does not support a file type of the file.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the servicing device is the destination printer and further comprising:

the destination printer receiving the file;

the destination printer processing the file to produce the processed print file; and

the destination printer printing the processed print file.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

the destination printer determining that it cannot process the file to produce the processed print file; and

the destination printer acquiring resources to process the file to produce the processed print file.

12. A wireless terminal, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a user interface including a user input device and a display; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the wireless interface and to the user interface and operable to:

receive a request via the user interface to print a file;

identify a destination printer;

determine that the wireless terminal does not include printer driver software to process the file to generate a processed print file;

identify a servicing device that includes printer driver software to process the file to produce the processed print file for printing at the destination printer; and

transmit the file to the servicing device via the wireless interface and the

servicing wireless network; and wherein:

the servicing device employs its included printer driver software to process the file to produce the processed print filet;

the servicing device transmitting the processed print file to the wireless terminal;

the processing unit receives the processed print file from the servicing device via the servicing wireless network and the wireless interface, the processed print file supported by the destination printer; and

the processing unit transmits the processed print file via the wireless interface and the servicing wireless network to the destination printer for printing.

13. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further operable to receive a confirmation that the file has been delivered to the destination printer for printing via the wireless interface and the servicing wireless network.

14. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein the servicing device is a server computer.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further operable to transmit information regarding the destination printer to the servicing device via the wireless interface and the servicing wireless network, the information including a network address of the destination printer.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein:

the wireless terminal is a wireless local area network (WLAN) telephone, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) telephone, a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) telephone, or a cellular telephone.

17. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein in identifying a destination printer, the processing unit is operable to:

identify at least one available printer that is available to the wireless terminal for printing;

present at least one identity of the at least one available printer to a user of the wireless terminal via the user interface; and

receive input from the user via the user interface to indicate a selection of the destination printer.

18. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein:

the file is an email attachment, a file downloaded from a server coupled to the Internet, a file downloaded from a computer on the Internet, or a file delivered to the wireless terminal from at least one additional wireless terminal.

19. The wireless terminal of claim 12 , wherein in determining that the wireless terminal does not support printing of the file at the destination printer, the processing unit is operable to determine that the wireless terminal does not support a file type of the file.

20. A method for printing a file by a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

the wireless terminal receiving a request from a user of the wireless terminal to print the file;

the wireless terminal identifying a destination printer;

the wireless terminal determining that the wireless terminal does not include printer driver software to process the file to generate a processed print file;

the wireless terminal identifying a servicing device that includes printer driver software to process the file to produce the processed print file for printing at the destination printer;

the wireless terminal wirelessly transmitting the file and information regarding the destination printer to the servicing device via the servicing wireless network, the information regarding the printer including a network address of the destination printer;

the servicing device employing its included printer driver software to process the file to produce a processed print file, the processed print file supported by the destination printer;

the servicing device transmitting the processed print file to the wireless terminal;

the wireless terminal receiving the processed print file that has been transmitted to the wireless terminal from the servicing device via the servicing wireless network; and

transmitting the processed print file via the servicing wireless network from the wireless terminal to the destination printer for printing.

Assignments (6)